I hunt mostly private, but I have no problem hunting public land! Hey, its still hunting, better than being at work!!
As a 13 year old kid in 1976, I took my Hunters Safety card with me. I asked George, the "Old Timer" down the road, if I could hunt on his land. He said yes. I have had 480 acres to hunt since then. Well, my brother and 90 year old Dad still hunt there too. His grandson owns it now and looks forward to the backstrap, burger, venison brats & sausage in the fall. He gets a few Walleye fillets in the winter too. I know, I know....I am very lucky. But remember I do a lot more than just hunt. I get to kick people off too. He told me how lucky HE was to have such a responsible person taking care of his land. He also has an easy out if some asks to hunt his land, "No, I have had the same family hunting my land for 40 years". About 15 years ago I found out the "Old Timer" was a great hunter. There were some huge racks in the barn attic. When I inquired about them he said, "Those old things, they are Grandpas". Well turns out, he shot a double drop tine, 206+ non-typical. A few years later it was featured in North American Whitetail magazine as an blast from the past. He also had a few 170 class. November 2, 1987 (yes it still bothers me) I had what I truly believe was a double trop tine (6" & 8") 190+" nontypical. It was broadside at 25 yards and I shot him in the antler. The arrow was broken right there. We had 3" fresh snow that night. I tracked that deer for miles. Not a drop of blood or a hair. I can still here the sound of the bh hitting the antler and the arrow braking. It was about 75 yards away from George's old farm house. The stone foundation and some apple trees are still there. I can find remnants of the old still too. When I saw George's 206+" is looks so much like the one I shot in the antler its scary. I guess a rambled more than just a public or private answer. Just shows you never know until you ask.
I'm mostly on public and some managed forage crop land. I wish had a chunk of private land to hunt on in central Wisconsin. Anyone wanna give me access?
Classic of hitting where you are looking . Great story. It is near impossible to get permission on local farms around me. Heck PA has a co-op program between land owners and the game commission and even those people say no. Just too many people hunting.
YES, I do. I still have the BH and arrow to remind me. I promise you I will never shoot the headgear again. Dang you now.......I have to go look at it again. Thanks for the smile anyway.
I hunt private land that shares a border on the south and west sides with a public piece of land. I occasionally share the same challenges that accompany hunting public ground. Mainly it is with duck hunters coming down the river that borders the southern edge of the property and then get out and set up on the private ground. The side I hunt is private ground while the other side is public land. Total acreage is just under 400.
I hunt mostly private land, I own a 130 acres and I lease close to 500 acres in Illinois. I'm going to hunt more public this year just for the fun of it.
